DILG eyes community service for first time lockdown violators

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is looking at making first-time violators of community quarantine protocols render community service as punishment to decongest crowded police station detention cells.

“Mas okay ‘yan kasi kung dadalhin sa police stations natin medyo puno na rin. Mas maganda siguro mag commmunity service tayo, tapos second offense siguro yun yung multa, tapos pangatlong offense, ‘yan ang ikukulong natin,” DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said over ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo on
Wednesday when asked if they are considering imposing community service for lockdown violators who could not afford fines.

(That is more okay because if we will all bring them to police stations, it is already full. Maybe it is better if we implement community service then for the second offense, we will collect fines then detention for the third offense.)

Malaya also reiterated DILG’s call for local government units to create a unified ordinance to penalize violators of coronavirus quarantine in their respective areas.

“Nakiusap si (DILG) Sec (Eduardo) Año na gawing uniform yung fines and penalties. Nag-mi-meeting para magkaroon ng unified ordinance kasi iba iba rin kasi yung kanilang panuntunan sa mga lugar. May iba dalawang libo, may sampung libo din at iba iba ang araw ang pagkakakulong,” Malaya said when asked about punishment for violators.

(DILG Año has asked them to create uniformed fines and penalties. They had a meeting to have a unified ordinance because it is different in every area. There are some who implement fines of P2,000 and P10,000 while some have different imprisonment periods.)

“We urged them already at i-mo-monitor yun ng DILG at ipapaalam natin sa kababayan for their guidance,” he added.

(We urged them already and the DILG will monitor this which will be informed to the public for their guidance.)

Malaya also warned the public of stricter protocols against violators of community quarantine following the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte to jail those who would breach lockdown rules.

“Siguro dito sa naging pahayag ni Pangulo, magiging mas mahigpit tayo. Mas maraming tayong ma-a-apprehend. Babala sa mga kababayan, sana po makinig tayo sa mga protocols na pinapatupad sa ating bansa,” the DILG official said.

(Maybe as the President said we will be stricter. There are more people who will be apprehended. Just a warning, I hope the public will listen to protocols that would be implemented in our country.)

READ: ‘Hulihin talaga’: Duterte wants stricter implementation of health protocols

/MUF